Combination table and bench



June 21, 1955 J. E. GARLAND 2,711,203

COMBINATION TABLE AND BENCH Filed April 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 1955 J. E. GARLAND 2,711,208

COMBINATION TABLE AND BENCH Filed April 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mum" . INVfNTOR.

United States Patent COMBINATION TABLE AND BENCH James E. Garland, Miami, Fla. Application April 8', 1954, Serial No. 421,913

1 Claim. (Cl. 155-43 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in articles of furniture and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a combination table and bench, essentially for schools, cafeterias and auditoriums whereby the article of furniture may be selectively converted into a table or bench structure and thereby reduce to a minimum the amount of furniture necessary to accomplish the dual function of the proposed invention.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a combined table and bench structure which will obviate the need for extra storage space formerly provided for the storage of folding tables when the school room or the like is being employed for assembly purposes and which Will-also obviate the necessity of a storage space for extra folding chairs when a room is being used for cafeteria purposes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an article of furniture including a base structure and a combined seat portion and table top which is pivotally mounted on the base structure for movement into and out of either a seat forming position or table forming position, and which combined seat portion and table top is so pivotally mounted on the base structure as to derive the maximum stability when it is used as either a bench or table.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a combined bench and table structure that is extremely simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, efficient and durable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon reading of the subjoined description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the present invention disposed in its table forming position;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 22 of Figure 1, and showing the combined seat portion and table top swung to its seat forming position by dotted lines;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view illustrating the manner in which the combined seat portion and table top is held locked in its table forming position;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the present invention disposed in its table forming position; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the present invention in its bench forming position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral represents the combination table and bench structure generally including a base or base member 12 and a combined seat portion and table top 14.

The base 12 is composed of a pair of upstanding spaced parallel end walls 16 and 18 joined by a connecting member or horizontally disposed tube 26. The lower Patented June 21, 1955 whose forward and rear ends projectwell beyond the end walls 16 and 18 to rest against a floor surface or the like and provide stability for the entire base.

The combined seat portion and'table top iscomposed of two elongated substantially relatively perpendicular fiat panel members 26 and 28 which are suitably secured together. the end portions of the panel 28 and project laterally from the same side of panel 28 as does panel 26. The end walls 30 and 32 are also suitably fixedly attached to the ends of panel 26 torigidify the aforedescribed structure.

End walls 30 and 32 are located between the end walls 16 and 18 and overlap the upper end portions of end walls 16 and 18. Horizontally disposed, coaxial pivots 34 and 36 are employed for pivotally securing end walls '30 and 32 to end walls 16 and 18 respectively. In this manner, the combined seat portion and table top 14 is pivotally mounted on the base structure for movement into either a table forming. position as shown best in "Figure l or a bench forming position as shown best in "Figure .5.

'Mean's "is provided for locking thecombinedseat portion and table top 14 against pivotal movement and in a table forming position; This means comprises an. elonvgated lockingmernber or rod 38 which extends'axially throughth'e tube 20. A pair of' locking plates 40 and 42 are suitably fixed to and project laterally from the rod 38 adjacent the ends thereof and extend radially outwardly from slots 44 and 46 in the end portions of the tube 20 for the purpose of entering notches 43 and 51) in the end walls 30 and 3 2. A hand grip 52 is fixed to one'end of rod 38 whereby the rod may be moved or reciprocated in order to direct the plates 40 and 42 out of their accommodating notches 48 and 50 in the end walls 30 and 32.

Each of the end walls 16 andlfi is provided with a substantially centrally disposed opening 54 having countersinks 56 at the opposed inner faces of the end walls 16 and 18 to accommodate end plates 58 fixed to the strip 62 having an offset portion 64 which opposes the opening 54 in end wall 16. The offset portion 64 constitutes an abutment for a spring urged pressure ring 66 slidably received on rod 33. A coil spring 68 surrounds a portion of rod 38 and has one end engaged'with ring 66 and its other end suitably fixed to rod 38 to yieldingly urge ring 66 against offset portion 64 and thus maintain rod 38 and plates 40 and 42 in their locking position.

Any suitable means may be utilized 'in conjunction with the aforedescribed locking mechanism for the purpose of positively locking the rod 38 against accidental movement when it is desired tolock the combined seat portion and table top 14 against pivotal movement and either in a bench forming or table forming position. it is anticipated that a conventional type key operated locking barrel such as that used on vehicle door handles may be incorporated into the hand grip 52 for this purpose.

A cover cap housing 70 encloses the offset portion 64, ring 66 and spring 68. Housing 70 is provided with a peripheral member 72 that is suitably secured to the outer face of end wall 16 over the opening 54 in end wall Additional end walls 30 and 32 are fixed 'to' 3 16. The housing 79, which may function as a locking abutment for the previously described key operating locking mechanism, is provided with a central aperture that slidably receives rod 38.

In practical use of the present invention, assuming the combined seat portion and table top to be disposed in its table forming position as shown in Figure 1, it is merely necessary to retract rod 33 and move plates 40 and 42 out of the notches 4S and 50 in order that the combined seat portion and table top may be swung to 'its bench forming position as shown in Figure 5 and by the combined seat portion and table top 14 is in its position shown in Figure 5, it is merely necessary to manually swing the combined seat portion and table top 14 upwardly until the panel 28 is disposed with its upper face in a horizontal plane and therein direct plates 40 and 42 into the notches 48 and 50;

From the foregoing detailed description of thepreferred embodiments of the invention it will be evident to those skilled in the art that minor changes and modifications might be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claim.

Having described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

A combination bench and table comprising a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed end members and a 4 v p. connecting member joining said end members, an elongated support extending between said end members, said support including a pair of end walls paralleling said end members, horizontal pivot elements securing said end walls to said end members, said support havinga first flat panel member adapted to be selectively disposed in a horizontal position and in a vertically inclined position against said end members,.said support including a second flat panel member secured to and extending away from said first panel member and adapted to form a seat when the first panel member is disposed in a substantially vertically inclined position and a retractable locking member carried by said end members and engageable with said end walls for locking the first panel member in a horizontal position, said locking member including a horizontally slidable rod and a pair of plates fixed to said rod adjacent the ends thereof, one of said end members having a notch therein accommodating one of said plates when said first panel member is disposed in a horizontal position, said connecting member including a a horizontal tube terminally attached to said end members and housing said rod, said tube having end slots slidably receiving and guiding said plates, the, walls of said slots restricting rotation of said rod;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS H 160,073 Bartels -Q Feb. 23,v 1875 2,141,094 Rohrmann Dec. '20, 1938 2,512,416' I Cockrell June 20,

FOREIGN PATENTS 96,478 Germany Mar. 26, 1924 

